Scallop muscle and viscera preconditioner

ABSTRACT

This invention relates generally to the machine-processing of scallops and specifically to a means of improving efficiency in the eviscerating process.

United States Patent [151 3,703,022 Bunnell [4 1 Nov. 21, 1972 I SCALLOPMUSCLE AND VISCERA 561 References Cited PRECONDITIONER UNITED STATESPATENTS [72] Inventor: Charles Milton Bunnell, P.O. Box

1695, St, A ti F] 32034 3,129,456 4/l 964 Renfroe ..l7/53 X [22] Filed:March 17,1971 3,465,382 9/1969 Meyer ..17/53 [2]] Appl. No.: 125,120Primary Examiner--Lucie H. Laundenslager 52 user ..17/s3,17/45 [571 lABSTRACT [51] IHLC] invention relates generally to the machine- [58]Field of Search ..17/53,54, 45

processing of scallops and specifically to a means of improvingefficiency in the eviscerating process.

2 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTED 3 703, 022

SCALLOP MUSCLE AND VISCERA PRECONDITIONER Prior art machines used inthis step accept the muscle with viscera attached immediately followingits separation from the shell, and depend upon the eviscerator toperform the complete evisceration step.

One objection to this procedure is that the viscera is often heldtightly to the muscle as a'result of the heat treatment generally usedin the shelI-shucking process, and further that one part of the viscera,the roe-sack, in spawning season becomes large and of a flat shape andof a rubbery consistency and is held tightly against the muscle, makingit difficult to achieve a high percentage of thoroughly cleaned musclesduring their travel through the eviscerator, thus making necessaryextensive hand-sorting to separate those not suitable for packing.

The object of this invention is to precondition the muscle and viscerain a separate step, making it more amenable to removal of the viscera bythe eviscerator, this occurring between the shucking and evisceratingprocesses. 1

In the drawing, I have illustrated one mechanical embodiment of thisinvention.

FIG. 1 is a section view of one embodiment of this invention whichillustrates the sequence of steps in the viscera-preconditioning processat any point along the axis of its one moving part.

Uneviscerated scallops 1 are introduced through a hopper 2 to the spacetween the cylindrical hollow drum 3 which turns on a horizontal axis 4in a counter clockwise rotation, directional arrow A, and in closeproximity with a circumferential portion of a cylindrical shell 5, of alarger diameter, and on a parallel axis to that of said shell and solocated that the space between the shell and drum surfaces is greater atthe top and less at the bottom and with a gradually decreasing spacefrom top to bottom. The drums outer surface 6 and shells inner surface 7are textured to prevent the muscle with viscera from slipping on eithersurface. At the bottom of the shell is attached a chute 8 for exit ofthe muscle with viscera. A linear spray of water 9 parallel to the drumsaxis is applied to the drum surface to assist in removal of any bits ofviscera separated from the muscle.

The muscles with viscera attached 1 and introduced athopper 2 are rolledunder increasing pressure of the gradually narrowed space between therotating drum surface 6 and shell surface 7 from the top to the bottomwhere they are released through the exit chute 8. This rolling actionunder gradually increasing pressure lessens the rigidity of the muscle,loosens the soft portions of the viscera and helps to twist the firm,rubbery, generally wide and flat roe-sack from the muscle, thuspreconditioning the muscle with viscera attached for introduction to theeviscerating apparatus.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for the machine-processing of scallops, or the like,and having the purpose of preconditioning the uneviscerated muscle bysoftening the rigidity of the muscle, breaking the membrane whichjackets the muscle bodyand loosening the viscera and gonads and whichapparatus includes two frictional surfaces with a space between them atone point approximately the same as the diameter of the scallop meatfind at another point less thanhediameter of the scalop meat and a means0 intro ucmg the uneviscerated muscles between said surfaces at thewider opening, and a means of moving at least one of said surfaces insuch a manner that the scallop muscle is rotated against the othersurface under gradually increasing pressure caused by the narrowing ofthe space between the two surfaces and a means of releasing the muscleafter it has traveled its course.

2. An apparatus constituting one embodiment of the apparatus set forthin claim 1 wherein the two frictional surfaces consist of a cylindricaldrum with a coarsely textured outer cylindrical surface turning within asemi-cylindrical shell with coarsely textured inner surface, the axis ofthe shell being parallel to that of the drum and slightly above it sothat the opening between them at the top is greater than at the bottom,the said drum turning in a direction such that its surface within theshell is turning downward, and said means of introducing theuneviscerated scallop meats to these surfaces consisting of a hopper atthe top of the cylindrical shell and said means of releasing consistingof a chute at the bottom of the cylindrical shell.

1. In an apparatus for the machine-processing of scallops, or the like,and having the purpose of preconditioning the uneviscerated muscle bysoftening the rigidity of the muscle, breaking the membrane whichjackets the muscle body and loosening the viscera and gonads and whichapparatus includes two frictional surfaces with a space between them atone point approximately the same as the diameter of the scallop meat andat another point less than the diameter of the scallop meat and a meansof introducing the uneviscerated muscles between said surfaces at thewider opening, and a means of moving at least one of said surfaces insuch a manner that the scallop muscle is rotated against the othersurface under gradually increasing pressure caused by the narrowing ofthe space between the two surfaces and a means of releasing the muscleafter it has traveled its course.
 1. In an apparatus for themachine-processing of scallops, or the like, and having the purpose ofpreconditioning the uneviscerated muscle by softening the rigidity ofthe muscle, breaking the membrane which jackets the muscle body andloosening the viscera and gonads and which apparatus includes twofrictional surfaces with a space between them at one point approximatelythe same as the diameter of the scallop meat and at another point lessthan the diameter of the scallop meat and a means of introducing theuneviscerated muscles between said surfaces at the wider opening, and ameans of moving at least one of said surfaces in such a manner that thescallop muscle is rotated against the other surface under graduallyincreasing pressure caused by the narrowing of the space between the twosurfaces and a means of releasing the muscle after it has traveled itscourse.